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Devices in which the chemical reaction is irreversible are called primary cell/
primary battery.
Batteries in which the chemical reaction is reversible are called Secondary/
rechargeable batteries.
Based on the pH of electrolyte used, batteries can be classified as acidic/ alkaline
batteries.
Lead acid accumulator is an acidic and rechargeable battery.
Nickel cadmium is an alkaline rechargeable battery.
The common feature of the above two secondary battery is that they act both as
electrochemical cell (during discharging) and as an electrolytic cell (during
recharging).
The main difference between acidic and alkaline batteries is that there is a
significant change in viscosity of electrolyte in the case of acid accumulator, but
in Nickel cadmium the electrolyte does not change significantly.
Alkaline battery is an improved form of the dry cell, in which the NH4Cl is
replaced with KOH or NaOH. This makes cell last longer mainly because the
zinc anode corrodes less rapidly under basic conditions than under acidic
conditions.
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Anode
Zinc
Cathode
Electrolyte
Cell representation
Cathode reaction
Constant Voltage
Applications
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Anode
Cd
Cathode
NiO2
Electrolyte
Cell representation
Anode reaction
Cd2+
Cd Cd2+ + 2e
+ 2OH Cd (OH)2
Cathode reaction
Recharging
-ve terminal
2e
Cd (OH)2 Cd + 2OH
+ve terminal
Net reaction
Constant Voltage
1.3 V
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1 NiO2
2 Cd
3- Aqueous KOH
4- Porous membrane
Anode
Pb
Cathode
PbO2
Electrolyte
Cell representation
Discharging
Anode reaction
Cathode reaction
Dr.VSG & Dr.K.Y.
Pb Pb2+ + 2e
Pb2+ + SO42- PbSO4
PbO2 + 4H+ + 2e Pb2+ + 2H2O
Pb2+ + SO42- PbSO4
4
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Recharging
-ve terminal
(cathode)
PbSO4
2e Pb + SO42-
+ve terminal
(Anode)
Net reaction
Constant Voltage
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New battery
(Recharged battery)
Exhausted battery
(Discharged battery)
Lithium reacts violently with water and with atmospheric nitrogen; hence organic
solvents are used as electrolyte in Li cells (ex. THF/ ether).
To improve the conductivity, salt of Li is added as a solute.
(ex: Lithium per chlorate / lithium tetra fluorophosphates).
Lithium battery is a solid state battery. Anode is lithium and cathode can be TiS2 /
MnO2 / V2O5 / MoO2 / Cr3O8 / CoO2 etc. The electrolyte is a solid electrolyte
which is a polymer. The polymer permits the passage of ions but not the
electrons.
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Advantages
Lithium battery is considered to be the cell of the future.
Light weight so easily portable.
High energy / power density. ( 1Kg of Li stores 150 Watt ,1Kg NiCd
stores 70 Watts, 6Kg Pb acid stores 150 Watt)
Solid electrolyte , hence no leakage
Lasts hundreds of charging cycles.
Can be made into convenient shapes and sizes.
Limitations
Explosive due to reactivity with water and nitrogen
Lasts only 2-3 years from date of manufacture irrespective of usage
Sensitive to high temperature
Anode
Lithium
Cathode
TiS2
Electrolyte
Cell representation
Li / Polymer / TiS2
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Anode reaction
Li Li+ + e
Cathode reaction
TiS2 + e TiS2
discharging
Li + TiS2 Li+ + TiS2 LiTiS2
Recharging
Constant Voltage
3V
Applications
Anode ( negative)
Cathode (positive)
Electrolyte
Anode reaction
2 Li 2 Li+ + 2 e
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Cathode reaction
S + 2 e S2
The S2 formed reacts with elemental Sulphur to
form polysulphide ion
S2 + nS [S]( n+1)2
Poly sulphide
discharging
Li2 S(n+1)
Recharging
2 Li + S
Constant Voltage
3.7 V
Applications
Fig 1
Graphite electrodes
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